Brighton close to agreeing new Fabian Hurzeler contract

AFC BournemouthArsenalAston VillaBrentfordBrighton & Hove AlbionBurnleyChelseaCrystal PalaceEvertonFulhamLeeds UnitedLiverpoolManchester CityManchester UnitedNewcastle UnitedNottingham ForestSunderlandTottenham HotspurWest Ham UnitedWolverhampton WanderersScores & ScheduleStandingsFantasyThe Athletic FC NewsletterPodcastsEverton vs. Man CityFootball's Biggest Talking PointsPL Title Race: Who Has the Edge?Liverpool's Doom LoopBrighton close to agreeing new Fabian Hurzeler contractHurzeler's current Brighton deals runs until 2027 Justin Setterfield/Getty Images Share article1Brighton & Hove Albion are close to agreeing a new contract with head coach Fabian Hurzeler. Hurzeler’s existing contract at Brighton runs until 2027. The Athletic reported in March that Bayer Leverkusen were keeping an eye on his situation, and at that stage there had been no indication of a new deal at the Amex Stadium for the 33-year-old. Hurzeler joined Brighton from German side St. Pauli in the summer of 2024, becoming the youngest permanent head coach in Premier League history at 31 years old. He led the club to eighth in the top flight during his debut season in charge and they sit eighth with three games of the 2025-26 campaign remaining, well in the mix to secure European football. Hurzeler has come under criticism from sections of the Brighton fanbase during his second season, with a run of one win from 13 dropping the team to 14th in February, before an upturn in form put them back into contention for a European place. Saturday’s defeat to Newcastle United ended a five-game unbeaten run in the Premier League. Hurzeler led St. Pauli to promotion to the Bundesliga during his first full season in charge before succeeding Roberto De Zerbi at Brighton. Hurzeler’s Brighton place a clear emphasis on low build-up, using short passes between their goalkeeper and centre-backs to entice the opposition forward, with the aim of playing into the space they leave behind. In that respect, Hurzeler made sense as Roberto De Zerbi’s successor. But much of his early work as a Premier League coach has actually been centred on scaling back the extent to which his players look to bait the press. While De Zerbi’s Brighton rivalled even Manchester City for their patient possession play, Hurzeler is more prepared to tailor his approach to the opposition, reinstating a more pragmatic in-possession style, similar to that of Graham Potter in years gone by. While there are clear similarities with the De Zerbi era, particularly when his goalkeeper puts his studs on the ball and beckons his team-mates closer, Hurzeler’s side seem to play with a bit more forward thrust once that first line of pressure is broken through. Without the ball, it is a similar story. Brighton are adventurous and organised in their press, but have been unable to consistently transform those defensive turnovers into goals. Prior to his big Premier League chance, Hurzeler had only had one professional management role on his resume. Before that, he spent four years at fifth-tier club FC Pipinsried. With that in mind, Hurzeler deserves credit for how he has faced up to the challenge, despite plenty of bumps along the way. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms